Illuminated paging device



Patented July 7, 1953 ILLUMINATED PAGING DEVICE Max H. Greenwald,Cleveland, Ohio,assignor, by

direct and mesne assignments, to The Richmond Products Company,Cleveland, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application April28, 1950, Serial No. 158,823

The present invention relates to an illuminated device having particularutility for use as a paging device in darkened theatres and auditoriumsand the like.

As is well known, whenever large groups of people attend a performance,as in an auditorium or a theatre, there are always occasions during theperformance when it is necessary to contact some person in the audienceto deliver an im-- portant or emergency message to him. This occurs mostfrequently in movie theatres where it may be necessary to inform anadult that he or she is urgently needed at home, ,or to inform aphysician that he has an emergency. call, or to in form a child that hisparents are looking for him,

or to inform a person that his automobile must be moved, or likesituations.

It is present practice when such situations arise in darkened movietheatres to do generally one of two things; either the person wanted ispagedtby vide a registration book for persons, such as physicians, whoexpect to be called, in which book the seating location of the physicianis noted so that he can be found when necessary. However, this procedureapplies only to those who would nor-' mally expect to be called and isof no value in the great majority of cases, where thecalls areunexpected. I I

It is the primary objectlof my invention to provide means for contactinga member of theaudience, which means shall not unduly disturb orinterfere with the entertainment being oifered.

Another object of my invention is to provide 2 Claims. ('01.. 340- 321)ofthis specification, and inwhich are employed to designate like partsthroughout the same, j i

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a paging'device embodying the features ofmy invention.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the device shown in Fig.1, as viewed fromthe right side of Fig.1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical "cross-section taken as indicated by line 3-3 ofFig.- 1.

Fig. 4 is afragmentary vertical cross-section taken as indicated by line4-4 of Fig. 2. v

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal cross section taken as indicated byline55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is'a frontelevation ,of a m'odified'form of paging device. I

Fig. 7 is an end elevation of the device shown in Fig. 6, as viewed fromthe right side of Fi'g.'*6.

Fig. 81s a vertical cross-sectional view taken on line3-3 ofFig.6.

Fig. 9 is a horizontal cross-sectional 'view taken on line 9 9 of Fig.6, and v i Fig. 10 is a fragmentary detail of thedisplay panel used inthe embodiment ofFig. 6.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1-5 of the drawings, the'device isseen to comprise two end plates land 2 between which is secureda unitary hollowbody 3 which is of oval-shaped crosssection. The body 3consists of two parts, a transparent or translucent upper displayportion :4 and an opaque arcuate lowerportion 5, thejtwo parts 4 and 5being cemented or bonded form the body. The parts 4 and 5 are together'to conveniently formed of a synthetic resin or plastic material, andthe upperportionl is preferablya frosted or-white translucent material,whereas the lower portion may be black. The upper portion! 'couldbeglass but inasmuch as'the synthetic resin is more readsuch means in theform of a portable, illuminated device which can readilybe carried by anusher.

Still another object of my invention is to provide such a paging devicewhich lends itself. readily to a variety of individual messages;

A further object of my invention to provide a device of the characterdescribed which is light in weight, compact in appearance, and whichconsists of a minimum of parts.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringing description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part ily workable and far'lessfragile, thelatter is preferred.

Eachof the end plates l and 2 has a thickened center portion orembossment 6 formed thereon which conforms in contour to the innerperiphery of the body 3 and extends into the body.3 so as to the courseof the follow- 1 position the body properly'as well as to reinforceit.

a A metallic tubular battery case 1 containing a I plurality of drycells 8 is contained within the arcuate lower portion 5 of the body landa longitudinally extending rod 9 is secured tosaid battery,

, plates 1 and 2'.

'Also mounted onthe battery case I, and secured like numerals i theretoas by soldering, are two or more bulb sockets I2 having suitablesupporting portions I3 which serve to electrically connect one terminalof the socket to the battery case. Each of the sockets I2 is alsoprovided with a laterally extending terminal lug I4, the respectiveterminal lugs I4 being electrically connected by means of an insulatedconductor wire I5. Bulbs I6 of the flashlight type are threadedlysecured in the sockets I 2.

Within the battery case 1, adjacent one end thereof, is secured a coilspring II the free end of which bears against and makes electricalcontact with one terminal l8 f the series of dry cells 8. The action ofthe spring I! also serves to urge the other terminal I3 of the series ofcells 8 into electrical contact with one terminal button 20 of apush-button switch 2| which is mounted on the end plate I and securedthereto by means of a ring nut 22.

The other terminal button 23 of the switch 2| is spaced from the switchand is secured to the inner face of the end plate I and electricallyconnected to the switch by a conductor 24. The terminal 23 is so locatedas to be in alignment with a resilient copper contact leaf 25 which issecured to the terminal lug I4 of the nearest bulb socket I2. Thecontact leaf 25 yieldably presses against the terminal button 23 tocomplete the electrical circuit to the bulbs IS.

The entire unit is fastened together by means of acorn nuts 28 whichthreadedly engage the projecting ends II] of the rod 9.

It will be apparent that when the switch 2I is closed, the bulbs l6,which are connected in parallel to the series of dry cells 8, will beenergized and will light up. The illumination from the bulbs will beconcealed by the opaque portion 0f the body 3 and will diffuse and bevisible through the exposed portions of the translucent part 4 of thebody.

In order to utilize the device in the manner hereinbefore mentioned,letters ornumerals such as those designated L may be secured to orimprinted upon theportion 4 of the body 3. These letters may be'm'ade apermanent part of the portion 4 as. by painting them on, as the wordCalling 'would generally not be changed. However, there are availableletters and numerals in various sizes which are formed of plastic sheetmaterial coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive. These letters willadhere to any smooth surface and are readily removable or changeable,therefore, I prefer to use such removable letters rather than usingpainted lettering or the like.

The identification such as the name Joe Smith may be written on the bodyportion 4 by means of crayon as indicated at W, such crayon being easilyerased from the surface when it is desired to write another name.Instead of using crayon, however, I prefer to use the removable lettersheretofore referred to as they are neater in appearance and are morelegible than ordinary writing with crayon.

Thus, if Mr. Joe Smith were wanted, his name would be placed on thepaging device, or if it were desired to locate the owner of a carbearing license number LN 471, such license identification would beWritten or formed on the device. Both sides of the display portion 4would carry the same message so that when an usher carries theilluminated device up a theatre aisle, persons both to the right and tothe left of him will be able to read the message.

The illumination'given by the flashlight bulbs is sufficient to makesthe message stand out and 4 be easily visible and readable, yet it isnot too bright so as to disturb the audience.

In Figs. 6 to 10 of the drawings, I have shown a modified form of pagingdevice in which I utilize an edge-wise illuminated display panel 30. Thepanel may be formed of glass, but I prefer that it be formed of a-clear, transparent synthetic resin such as Lucite.

The panel 30 is supported between two end plates 3| and 32 and itsbottom edge 33 is concealed within a hollow body portion 34 which alsois supported between the end plates 3| and 32.

The body portion 34 may be made of an opaque synthetic resin and isprovided with an arcuate laterally offset portion 35 of semi-circularcrosssection which is adapted to contain a tubular metallic battery case35 holding a series of dry cells 31.

The edges 38 and 39 of the body 34 are spaced from each other to definea longitudinally extend slot or opening 40 in the upper portion of thebody, which slot is slightly narrower than the thickness of the panel30. Each of the edges 38 and 39 is curved slightly away from the opening40 so as to provide a flared entranceway to the slot. Additionally, theedge 38 is recessed at both ends thereof as indicated at M so as topermit the edge 38 to yield or give when the panel 30 is inserted in theslot 40. In the assembled structure, the end plate 3I is removable, butthe end plate 32 is preferably cemented to the body 34, therefore therecesses 4I permit some resiliency in what would otherwise be a fairlyrigid structure.

Each end plate 3| and 32 is provided with two horizontally spacedvertically extending ribs 42 which serve to support the panel 30 in anupright position and guide it into the slot 40.

Each end plate 3I and 32 is also provided with an embossment 43 whichgenerally conforms in shape to the internal periphery of the body 34.The embossments 43 project into the body 34 and serve to reinforce thebody as well as to locate it properly during assembly. Each embossment43 is provided with a horizontal portion or ledge 44 which is locateddirectly below the panel 30 and serves as a stop or rest for the bottomedge 33 of the panel.

A longitudinally extending rod 45 is secured to the battery case 36 andhas threaded ends 46 which project through clearance holes 41 providedin the end plates 3| and 32. The battery case 35 and the end plates aresecured together and held in position by acorn nuts 48 which threadedlyengage the rod 45.

In one end of the battery case 38 is secured a compression coil spring49 which bears against and makes electrical contact with one terminal 50of the series of drycells 31. The spring also urges the other terminal5| of the series of dry cells into electrical contact with a contactterminal or button 52 which is provided on a pushbutton switch 53 whichis mounted on the end plate 3| and secured thereto by means of a ringnut 54.

The other terminal 55 of the switch 53 is spaced from the switch andmounted on the inner surface of the end plate 3|. It is connectedelectrically to the switch by means of a conductor 56.

Secured to the side of the metallic battery case 36 as by soldering orthe like, are a plurality of longitudinally spaced bulb sockets 51adapted to threadably receive bulbs 58, of the flashlight type. Oneterminal of the sockets 51 makes electrical connection with the terminal50 of the dry cells,

31 through the battery case 38. The other termie nals of the respectivesockets 51 are connected electrically by means of a conductor wire 59. Aresilient copper contact leaf 60 is secured to the terminal of the bulbsocket nearest the switch terminal 55 and makes contact with said switchterminal to complete the electrical circuit through the tubes 58.

The bulbs 58 are so located that they will underlie the bottom edge 33of the panel 30, and it will be apparent that when the switch 53 isclosed the bulbs 58, which are connected in parallel to the series ofdry cells 31, will be energized and the light will be transmittedthrough the edge of the panel 30.

In order to increase the effectiveness of the lighting, the lower edgeof the panel 30 is provided with a series of arcuate recesses 6| which,by presenting more edge surface to the light source, serve to intensifythe illumination of the a corresponding light bulb 58.

It has also been found that if the edges of the I with an opaque tape62. A heavy coating of paint or the like could be used in lieu ofthetape 62.

In utilizing the device, letters L of the adhesive type maybe mounted onthe panel to spell out a word such as Calling which would ordinarily becommon to all messages which might be put on the paging device.

The particular identification, such as the license number LN 471 of acar which has to be moved, can be written on the face of the panel 30 bymeans of crayon as indicated at W. This writing can be easily removed orerased and replaced by another message whenever the occasion arises.Instead of crayoning the message onto the panel, it may be made of thesame type of letters L which I prefer to use for Calling.

In order that the message be readily visible, I

prefer to put a coating of black paint or the like departing from thespirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims. 7

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. In a paging device ofthe character described, the combinationof a message panel, end

plates for supporting saidpanel, a stay-rod securing said end'platestogether, a battery case, said stay rod being secured to said batterycase longitudinally thereof and supporting it, an opaque enclosuresurrounding said stay-rod on said bate tery case, an electrical lightsource mounted on said battery case for illuminating said massage panel,and a source of electrical energy contained within said battery case forenergizing said light source.

2. In a paging device of the character described,

the combination of a hollow display panel having open ends, said panelhaving an' upper translucent portion and a lower opaque portion, endplates supporting said panel, said end plates hav-- ing embossmentsthereon which are slidable into the open ends of said panel, securingmeans for holding said end plates to said panel, an electrical lightsourcecontained within the opaque portion of said panel, and lightenergizing meainsv contained within said opaque portion of said paneland operatively connected to said light source.

MAX H. GREENWALD.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,236,647 Alt Aug. 14, 1917 1,241,965 Gunn -Oct. 2, 19171,554,469 Thomson Sept. 22, 1925 1,951,431 Meehan Mar. 20, 1934

